Taping machine



June 17, 1941. w. ADAMS TAPING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1940 June 17, 1941. I w, ADAIQS 2,245,636

TAPING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. ADAMS TAPING MACHINE June 17, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 7, 1940 June 17, 1941. w. ADAMS TAPING MACHINE Filed May '7', 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 17, 1941 omrso stares PATENT OFFICE TAPlNG MACHINE of Flemington, N. J a corporation of New Jer- ApplieationMay 7, 1940, Serial No. 333,791

In Great Britain May 25, 1939 ron. 12--51) 16 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying a reinforcing element such as a tape to a piece of sheet material adjacent tothe edgethereof and folding themargin of the material over the tape as it is applied to the material;

- In the manufacture of many types of shoes it is customary to apply areinforcing tape to parts of the uppers prior to the pulling-over operation to strengthen the edges of the uppers. This operation is usually performed separately from the folding operation and oftentakes place with the upper turned insideout. The result of this is that when'the quarters are turned right side out the tape is slack'because the tape is then on the inside circle. must be taken up during the pulling-over operation' before the tape imparts any reinforcing value to the shoe sothat its effectiveness as a reinforcing material is not as great as it might be. 'This may be largely overcome by applying the reinforcing tape, during the folding operation during which the natural curvature of the upper is at least partly maintained so that the taping operation is more effective in reinforcing the shoe parts than if the tape is applied while the upper is turned wrong side out. One of the require- -ments of a machine that applies tape and folds the edge of the material thereover in a single operation is that the machine be capable of interrupting the application of the tape and restarting the application thereof at any time during the folding operation as it is often undesirable to apply a continuous line of tape along the edge of the material and many manufacturers insist on severing the tape at two or the outline of the shoe.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved machine for progressively applying a reinforcing tape to a piece of sheet material by which it will be possible to sever the tape at any time'during the feeding movement of the material and to restart the application of the tape at any time subsequent to the severing thereof without interrupting the feeding movement of the material.

More specifically, it is an object, of my invention to provide an improved folding and taping machine for applying a reinforcing tape to a piece of sheet material adjacentto the edge thereof and simultaneously folding the margin of the material over the tape, .the machine having mechanisms for interrupting the application of tape at any timeduringthe folding operation and restarting the application of tape to the This slackness in the tape more points around work'without interrupting the operation of the machine.

In accordance'with a feature of the present invention, a tape cutting knife is associated with the machine and may-be operated at the will of the operator to out the tape whenever desired.

The tape is tensioned, during the cutting operthe guide'is movable to clamp'the tape against movement with respect to the guide when the guide is retractedfrom the folding instrumentalities to permit severing of the tape. In order that the tape maybe reapplied to the work at any time without interrupting the folding operation; andin accordance with a further feature of theinvention, the tape is held between the guide and theclam'pingmemloer as the guide is 'moved back to the position in which it presents thetape to the workso as to draw the tape downwardly, and the tape is not released from between the guide and clamp until the guide has moved back to its tape presenting position.

These and other features of the invention will now be described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of'the operating head of one form of 'rnachine in which the invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of of the machine;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are views similar to Fig. 1 with the tape-applying instrumentalities indifferent positions; and

Fig. 6 is a plan View of the tape cutting knife and the operating means therefor.

the operating head a The tape-applying device is illustrated as being applied to a folding machine of the intermittent feed type, one form of such machine being shown in Letters Patent of the United States 1,702,598

granted February'19, 1929, on the application of P. R. Glass. In machines of this type the margin of the work, laid on a table 8, is folded by a reciprocating folding finger I!) (Fig. 2) against the adjacent surface of a creaser foot l2, the

margin of the work having first been upturned by its engagement with a plow I4 (Fig. l). The folded margin of the work is then pressed by a hammer l6 and acooperating anvil l8, the hammer and anvil also cooperating to impart an intermittent feed to the work, as fully explained in the aforementioned Glass'patent. In order to reinforce the folded margin of the work, a strip of tape T is directed to the undersurface of the creaser foot I2 by guide 20, the undersurface of the creaser foot being provided with a groove 22 for guiding the tape to. the work piece. Accordingly, the tape is applied to the work piece as the margin of the work is folded against the adjacent portion of the creaser foot by the folding finger ID, the margin of the work then being pressed against the tape by the cooperating hammer and anvil.

The tape guide 20, having a tape passage 2| (Fig. l), is mounted at the lower end of an arm 24 which is pivoted between the ends thereof at 26 to a plate 30. The plate 30 is in turn pivoted on a boss 32 (Figs. 1 and 2) extending forwardly from a bracket 34 (Fig.2). The bracket 34 is secured by a screw 36 and a pin 38 to one side of a support 40 mounted in an overhanging arm 42 of the machine.

The plate 30 carries a clamping member 44 in the form of a flange at the end thereof adjacent to the tape guide 20 and is arranged to clamp the tape against a wall of the guide when the arm 24 on which the guide is mounted is pivoted relative to the plate 30 to the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 5, thus preventing movement of the tape relative to the guide. In order to control the position of the arm 24 relative to the plate 30, the upper end of the arm carries a roll 46 which is maintained in engagement with a cam surface 48 having a recess 50 therein, by the influence of gravity or any suitable biasing means (not shown) The cam surface 48 is formed on the underside of an overhanging arm 52 fixed by screws 54 to a plate 56 pivoted concentrically with the plate 30. The plate 56 is mounted on a sleeve 58 (Fig. 2) carried by the outer end of the boss 32 and the plate 56 is retained on the sleeve by means of a washer 60 and a screw 62 threaded into the outer end of the boss 32. If the plate 30 is swung in a clockwise direction relative to the plate 56, to the position shown in Fig. 3, the roll 46 enters the recess 50 in the arm 52 thus permitting clockwise swinging of the arm 24 relative to the plate 30 to move the tape guide 20 away from the clamping member 44 thus permitting freedom of movement of the tape through the guide.

The plates 30 and 56 are maintained in frictional engagement with one another by a spring 64 (Fig. 2). This spring acts between a nut 66 threaded on the outer end of a screw 68 carried by the plate 30, and a washer I bearing against the outer surface of the plate 56. The plate 56 is formed with a slot I2 to permit relative movement between the plates 30 and 56 under certain conditions to be described.

In order to cut the tape whenever desired, either at the end of a folding operation or to interrupt the application of tape to the work before the completion of the folding operation, a knife I4 is mounted at the lower end of a shaft 16 mounted for oscillatory movement in the outer end of the bracket 34. Fixed to the upper end of the shaft I6 is an arm 80 to the outer end of which is pivoted a rod 82 which may be connected to a treadle or any suitable operator-controlled means for causing lengthwise movement of the rod to swing the shaft I6 and move the knife 14 from the full line position of Fig. 6 to the broken line position in which it engages and cuts the tape between the guide 20 and the creaser foot i2. During the movement of the knife I4 to cut the tape it is moved downwardly toward the work support from the position shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose the shaft I6 carries an arm 84 (Fig.

1) at the outer end of which is mounted a cam roll 86 received by a cam slot 88 in a curved plate 90 (Fig. 2). The plate 90 is secured by screws 92 to a block 94 which is in turn secured by screws 96 to the bracket 34. The upper curved portion of the plate 90 is concentric with the shaft 16 and upon rotation of the shaft in a direction to move the knife I4 to cut the tape, it will be apparent upon reference to Fig. 2 that the shaft 16 will also be moved downwardly by the engagement of the cam roll 86 with the cam slot 88.

The tape guide 20 is illustrated as being in its tape presenting position in Fig. 3, in which position the guide is adjacent to the creaser foot 22 and is spaced from. the clamp 44 to permit the tape T to move freely therethrough. It will be apparent that the guide 20 must be moved upwardly out of the position shown in Fig. 3 in order to permit the tape to be severed by the knife I4. Means are therefore provided to cause such movement during the downward and swinging movement of the knife I4. For this purpose the plate 30 carries a roll I00 which is positioned to be engaged by a slide I02 (Fig. 1) having at its lower end an inclined cam surface I04. The slide I02 is guided for downward movement from the position shown in Fig. l by the block 94, the bracket 34 and the plate 30. The upper end of the slide I02 carries a projection I06 which is received by an annulargroove I08 formed in the hub of the arm 84. Accordingly, as the arm 84 moves downwardly carrying with it the shaft 16 it will also cause the slide I02 to move downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 5, thus moving the plate 30 on which the tape-guide 20 is mounted, in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in these figures. Thus downward movement of the knife 14 toward the cutting position will be accompanied by an upward movement of the tape guide 20 so that there will be no interference between the guide and the knife as the tape is severed.

As stated before, the plates 30 and 56 are maintained in frictional engagement with each other by the spring 64 so that as the plate 30 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, the plate 56 will move therewith. The extent of movement of the plate 56 is limited by a pin IIO mounted in the outer end of the bracket 34 and extending through a slot H2 in the plate 56. The plate 30 has a slot II4 concentric with the slot H2 in the plate 56 through which the pin IIO also passes, the slot II4 being of considerably greater length than the slot II2 to permit continued movement of the plate 30 after the movement of the plate 56 has been arrested by the engagement of the end of the slot II2 with the pin IIO.

Fig. 4 illustrates the relative positions of the parts when the plate 56 has been rocked by the slide I02 from the position of Fig. 3 in a counterclockwise direction to the limit of the movement of the plate as determined by the engagement of the right end of the slot II2 with the pin III). The action of the spring 64 has caused the plates 30 and 56 to move in unison to this point, but since the plate 56 is prevented from further movement, further downward movement of the slide I02 will cause the plate 30 to move still further in a counterclockwise direction and relatively to the plate 56 to the position shown in Fig. 5. This continued movement of the plate 30 relative to the plate 56 causes relative movement between the roll 46 carried by the arm 24 on which the tape guide is mounted, and the arm 52 on the plate 55. As the roll 46 moves to the left relative to the plate 56 it will move out of the recess 50 in the arm 52 as indicated in Fig. 5, thus moving the arm 24 on which the tape guide is mounted in a counterclockwise direction relative to the plate 30 to move the inner wall of the tape guide 29 into proximity with the clamping member 44 to clamp the tape against movement relative to the guide. When the parts are in the position of Fig. the tape guide is in its uppermost position and the knife has moved to sever the tape between the tape guide and the creaser foot 22.

After the tape has thus been severed and th arm is moved back to the position of Fig. 2 thus returning the knife 14 to the position of Figs. 1 and 2, the slide I02 will be moved upwardly to the position of Fig. 1 in which it is out of engagement with the roll I00. The plates 3B and 56 will then move as a unit under the influence of gravity, from the positions of Fig. 5 back tol the positions shown in Fig. 1. This unitary movement of the plates will take place by reason of the frictional engagement therebetween caused by the spring 64. Further movement of the plate 56 in a clockwise direction beyond the position.

shown in Fig. 1 is prevented by reason of the engagement of the left end of the slot H2 with the pin IN]. Further movement of the plate 30 in a clockwise direction will not take place without the intervention of the operatorsince the force of gravity is insuflicient to overcome the. frictional engagement betweenthe plates 30 and 56. Accordingly, the tape is still clamped by the guide and the clamp 64 so that during this movement of the parts from the positions of Fig. 5 tothose of Fig. 1, the tape has been carried with the guide downwardly toward the work with the tape projecting a short distance below the guide, which projecting portion was left below the guide when the tape was severed. With the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1, the tape guide at is too far from the supporting surface to restart the application of tape to the work. Accordingly, with the parts in the position of Fig. 1, the machine may be operated to cause the margin of the work to be folded without the application of any tape thereto.

In order that the application of tape to the work may be restarted at any time, the arm 24 carrying the tape guide 20 is provided with a handle 12!] by which the operator may cause further clockwise movement of the plate 30 against the force exerted by the spring 64, from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position of Fig. 3, or until the left end of the slot H4 in the plate as engages the pin I Hi. When this movement of the plate so is completed, the roll 46 at the upper end of the arm 24 enters the recess 50 in the arm 52 of the plate 56 to permit the arm to swing and move the tape guide 20 away from the clamp 44. At this time the tape guide is sufliciently close to the work support to present the end of the tape to the surface of the work in front of the creaser foot 22. This operation may be effected by the operator without interrupting the operation of the machine in folding the margin of the work so that the application of tape to the work may be restarted at any time during the folding operation.

Upon treadling of the machine or movement of the rod 82 (Fig. 2) to the left to move the knife to sever the tape, the plates and 56 will move in unison until further movement of the plate 56 is arrested by the pin H0 (Fig. 4).

During this unitary movement the roll 46 has remained in the recess of the arm 52 so that the tape guide moves upwardly relative to the tape, and upon further movement of the plate 30 to the position of Fig. 5 the roll moves out of the recess 50 causing the'tape to be clamped between the guide 20 and the clamping member A l so that the knife l4 may sever the tape with a clean out and without causing any tape to be drawn through the guide 2o from the supply reel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for applying reinforcing tape to a piece of sheet material, tape applying and; work feeding means, means for guiding the tape to said applying means, said guiding means being movable between a tape presenting position adjacent to said applying means and a position remote therefrom, a clamping member with which said guiding means is movably associated, means operative in response to movement of said guiding means to said remote position for causing relative movement between said clamping member and said guiding means to clamp the tape therebetween, and means operative only after said clamping member has been moved into clamping engagement with the tape for severing the tape at a point between said guiding means and said applying means.

2. In a machine for applying areinforcing tape to a piece of sheet material, tape applying and work feeding means, means for guiding the tape to said applying means, said guiding means being movable between a tape presenting position adjacent to said applying means and a position remote therefrom, means operative upon movement of said guiding means to said remote position for clamping the tape to said guiding means just prior to the completion of said movement and maintaining the tape clamped thereto until the return movement of said guiding means to said tape presenting position is nearly completed and then releasing the tape, and means operative only after said guidingmeans has moved to said remote position for severing the tape at a point between said guiding means and said applying means.

3. In a taping machine, means for applying tape to a work piece, a guide for directing the tape to said applying means, a knife for cutting the'tape between said applying means and said guide, means for moving the guide away from said applying means, means for operating the knife tape to said applying means, a knife for cutting the tape between said applying means and said guide, means for moving the guide away from said applying means, means for operating the knife to sever the tape after the tape guide has been moved away from the applying means, means cooperating with said guide for clamping the tape against movement with respect thereto after the guide has moved away from the applying means and prior to the operation of the knife, and means maintaining said clamping means operative until the tape guide has moved back to tape applying position.

5. In a folding and taping machine, means for applying tape to a work piece adjacent to the margin thereof, means for folding the margin of a work piece over the tape as it is applied thereto, a tape guide for directing the tape to said applying means, means for moving the guide away from said applying means, means associated with said guide for clamping the tape thereto operative in response to movement of said guide away from said applying means, a knife for severing the tape between said guide and said applying means, and means for operating said knife to sever the tape after the tape has been clamped to said guide.

6. In a folding and taping machine, means for applying tape to a work piece adjacent to the margin thereof, means for folding the margin of a work piece over the tape as it is applied thereto, a tape guide for directing the tape to said applying means, means for moving the guide away from said applying means, means associated with said guide for clamping the tape thereto operative in response to movement of said guide away from said applying means, a knife for severing the tape between said guide and said applying means, means for operating said knife to sever the tape after the tape has been clamped to said guide, and means for maintaining the tape clamped to said guide until the guide has been moved back to tape applying position.

7. A folding and tape applying machine comprising a cooperating creaser foot and folding finger for forming a fold in the margin of a work piece, a cooperating hammer and anvil for pressing the fold and feeding the work, means for guiding a reinforcing tape to said work by guiding means, means for moving the guiding means away from said applying means prior to the severing of the tape, and means associated with said guiding means for gripping the tape against movement with respect thereto during the severing of the tape and maintaining the grip on the tape until the guide means is moved back to the tape applying position.

10. In a folding and tape applying machine,

means for applying tape to a work piece and folding the margin of the work piece thereover, means way of the work engaging side of said creaser foot, said guiding means being movable between a tape presenting position adjacent to said creaser foot and a position remote therefrom, a clamping member with which said guiding means is movably associated, means operative in response to movement of said guiding means to said remote position for causing relative movement between said clamping member and said guiding means to clamp the tape therebetween, and means operative only after said clamping member has been moved into clamping engagement with the tape for severing the tape between said guiding means and said creaser foot.

8. A folding. and tape applying machine comprising a cooperating creaser foot and folding finger for forming a fold in the margin of a work piece, a cooperating hammer and anvil for pressing the fold and feeding the work, means for guiding a reinforcing tape to said work by way of the work engaging side of said creaser foot, said guiding means being movable between a tape presenting position adjacent to said creaser foo-t and a position remote therefrom, means operative upon movement of said guiding means to said remote position for clamping the tape to said guiding means just prior to the completion of said movement and maintaining the tape clamped thereto until the return movement of said guiding means to said tape presenting position is nearly completed and then releasing the tape, and means operative only after said guiding means has moved to said remote position for severing the tape at a point between said creaser foot and said guiding means.

9. In a tape applying machine, means for applying tape to a work piece and feeding said work piece, means for guiding the tape to said applying means, operator controlled means for severing the tape between said applying means and said for guiding the tape to said applying means, operator controlled means for severing the tape between said applying means and said guiding means, means for moving the guiding means away from said applying means prior to the severing of the tape, means associated with said guiding means for gripping the tape against movement with respect thereto during the severing of the tape and maintaining the grip on the tape until the guide means is moved back to the tape applying position, and means for holding said guiding means out of tape applying position to permit folding of the margin of the work piece without the application of tape thereto.

11. In a tape applying machine, means for applying a strip oftape to a work piece and feeding said work piece, means for presenting the tape to said applying means, said tape presenting means comprising a guide through which the tape passes, a plate pivotally supporting said guide, a clamp carried by said plate and cooperating with said guide to clamp the tape thereagainst when said guide is moved relative to said plate toward said clamp, means supporting said plate for movement from a position in which said guide is in a tape presenting position to a position in which said guide is remote from said applying means, means operative in response to movement of said plate to the position remote from said applying means to move said guide relative thereto toward said clamp, and means for severing the tape between said applying means and said guide after saidguide has moved to said remote position.

12. In a tape applying machine, means for applying a strip of tape to a work piece and feeding said work piece, means for presenting the tape to said applying means, said tape presenting means comprising a guide through which the tape passes, a plate pivotally supporting said guide, a clamp carried by said plate and cooperating with said guide to clamp the tape against said guide when said guide is moved relative to said plate toward said clamp, means supporting said plate for movement from a position in which said guide is in a tape presenting position to a position in which said guide is remote from said applying means, operator controlled means for moving said' plate in a direction to move said guide to said remote position, said plate being arranged to move by gravity toward the position in which said guide is in tape presenting position, means operative in response to movement of said plate to said remote position to move said guide relative thereto toward said clamp and to maintain said guide adjacent to said clamp until said guide has moved nearly back to said tape presenting position, and means for severing the tape between said applying means and said guide after said guide has moved to said remote position.

13. In a taping machine, means for applying tape to a work piece, a guide for presenting the tape to said applying means, a pivoted guide supporting plate arranged to move the guide from a position adjacent to said applying means to a position remote therefrom, said guide being movable with respect to said plate and cooperating with a portion of said plate when said guide is in one position relative thereto to clamp the tape against said guide, and a cam operative when said plate is moved to position said guide in said remote position-to move said guide relative to said plate to clamp the tape therebetween.

14. In a taping machine, means for applying tape to a Work piece, a guide for presenting the tape to said applying means, a pivoted guide supporting plate arranged to move the guide from a position adjacent to said applying means to a position remote therefrom, said guide being movable with respect to said plate and cooperating with a portion of said plate when said guide is in one position relative thereto to clamp the tape against said guide, a cam operative, when said plate is moved to position said guide in said remote position, to move said guide relative to said plate to clamp the tape therebetween, a plate supporting said cam, said plate being pivoted about the axis about which the guide supporting plate is pivoted, means limiting the movement of said cam supporting plate, and means constraining said plates to move in unison to the limit of movement of said cam supporting plate while permitting further movement of said guide supporting plate in either direction.

15. In a taping machine, means for applying tape to a work piece, a guide for presenting the tape to said applying means, a pivoted guide supporting plate arranged to move the guide from a position adjacent to said applying means. to a position remote therefrom, said guide being movable with respect to said plate and cooperating with a portion of said plate when said guide is in one position relative thereto to clamp the tape against said guide, a cam operative when said plate is moved to position said guide in said remote position, to move said guide relative to said plate to clamp the tape therebetween, a plate supporting said cam, said plate being pivoted about the axis about which the guide supporting plate is pivoted, means limiting the movement of said cam supporting plate, and means constraining said plates to move in unison to the limit of movement of said cam supporting plate while permitting further movement of said guide supporting plate in either direction, said plates being so mounted that they will be moved by gravity from the position in which the guide supporting plate has moved the guide to said remote position toward the position in which the guide is adjacent to said applying means, said constraining means being arranged to prevent completion of this movement of the guide supporting plate except by the application of an external force applied thereto.

16. In a taping machine, means for applying tape to a work piece, a guide for presenting the tape to said applying means, a pivoted guide supporting plate arranged to move the guide from a position adjacent to said applying means to a position remote therefrom, said guide being movable with respect to said plate and cooperating with a portion of said plate when said guide is in one position relative thereto to clamp the tape against said guide, a cam operative when said plate is moved to position said guide in said remote position to move said guide relative to said plate to clamp the tape therebetween, a tape severing knife, means for moving said knife from a retracted position to a cutting position between said guide and said applying means, and means connecting said knife moving means and said guide supporting plate to cause movement of said guide supporting plate in a direction to move said guide to its remote position as the knife is moved to its cutting position.

WALTER ADAMS. 

